BuzzFlash Reviews

December 7, 2005

America, Fascism, And God: Sermons from a Heretical Preacher (Paperback) by Davidson Loehr

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Some BuzzFlash readers may remember a searing, insightful sermon by a Texas minister that caromed around the Internet for awhile. It was called "Living Under Fascism" -- and it fulfilled the hopes and expectations that a religious leader would utter the "F" word and then make a convincing case that the Republicans have crossed the line into that form of government.

Rev. Davidson Loehr delivered his historical sermon on November 7, 2004. He warned then:

"You may wonder why anyone would try to use the word 'fascism' in a serious discussion of where America is today. It sounds like cheap name-calling, or melodramatic allusion to a slew of old war movies. But I am serious. I don't mean it as name-calling at all. I mean to persuade you that the style of governing into which America has slid is most accurately described as fascism, and that the necessary implications of this fact are rightly regarded as terrifying. That's what I am about here."

And he preached this sermon in, of all places, Texas. He concluded his remarks that day with both words of hope and caution:

"Those who want to live in a reality-based story rather than as serfs in an ideology designed to transfer power, possibility and hope to a small ruling elite have much long and hard work to do, individually and collectively. It will not be either easy or quick.

"But we will do it. We will go forward in hope and in courage. Let us seek that better path, and find the courage to take it - step, by step, by step."

What a gift it was to read a man of the cloth abandoning canned, cliche-ridden dogma and seizing upon words that struck at the heart of the dangers facing the American nation.

Now Loehr's prophetic sermons are available in a fascinating book: "America Fascism + God: Sermons from a Heretical Preacher."

The foreword alone is reason enough to read this book: "A 'free pulpit' isn't free," Loehr writes, "and honest religion is always heretical. Heresy isn't a bad word. Sometimes it is the only place left where you can find the quality of spirit that was once rightfully called Holy."

And what can one say to the second paragraph of his introduction but Amen! "I am concerned for this nation, and for its soul; both are in serious trouble. The nation has revived the dangerous and arrogant policy of preemptive invasions of sovereign nations that have resources or locations we desire for our own economic ends-a policy last made infamous by Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939. Our politicians have rushed to endorse, in our name, imperialistic ambitions too greedy and bloody to be defended by noble ideals. The media are so unquestioning, they seem like co-conspirators. And the churches seem to lack the vision and the courage to serve us or our highest ideals. When our politicians, our media, and our official religions cannot be trusted with our high ideals and tender mercies, we are in deep trouble. And the way back to democracy, freedom, and honest religion, if still possible, will be very hard."

And of course, Loehr, in his sermons speaks of God: "God is discussed in our culture like a cartoon character, like a critter....It's like a simple true-false quiz. 'God is a big critter living up there somewhere. Yes or no?' And that's really dumb."

Do you want to attend this guy's church or what?

A Vietnam veteran and graduate of the University of Chicago Divinity School, Loehr is senior minister at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Austin.

His book is the next best thing to being there on a Sunday morning and feeling the spark of the miracle of life and democracy we cherish.

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